VS RAMSGATE
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE | SOUTH EAST DIVISION
TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2024 | KICK OFF 7.30PM
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN FC
The Vistavis Community Stadium College Lane | East Grinstead | RH19 3LS
Tel: 01342 325885
WELCOME
Good evening and thanks for coming out tonight to support your team! Our welcome extends, of course, to the players, management, committee and supporters who have made the trip from Ramsgate. Hopefully a case of third time lucky! Well I look upon tonight as a free hit. Ramsgate have only dropped two points so far and in Joe Taylor they have a striker whose goal tally on his own exceeds quite a few clubs, ourselves included. We have nothing to lose but everything to gain, even if we don't win, for there surely has to be a reaction to Saturday's inspid performance against Lancing. I'm sure everyone of a Grinstead persuasion will hope and expect to see something a lot better.
LET'S SEE A REACTION!
Our fifth league defeat out of six and other results combined to trim the gap between ourselves and the bottom four down to five points. It's still relatively early in the season of course, but we have another of the top sides on Saturday when we play Beckenham so things could get worse before they get better.
We have shown on plenty of occasions this season that we have the squad and ability to win games at this level. No one should expect anything less than a committed, energetic and hardworking performance tonight. COME ON THE WASPS!
East Grinstead Town FC is an unicorporated association . members club and a Community Amateur Sports Club (reg no 02270)
Followuson:
ClubManagement:
Chair & Treasurer: Richard Tramontin
Secretary & Vice chair: Brian McCorquodale
Senior Football Officer: Steve Norris
Head of Recruitment: Matt Wheeler
Commercial Manager: Steve Norris
Club Welfare Officer: Brian McCorquodale
Disability Welfare Officer: Stuart Gibson
Safety & Facilities Officer: Barry Bryant
Bar Manager: Stuart Gibson
Press Officer: Bruce Talbot
ED&I Officer: Andy Dodson
FootballManagement
Manager: Drew Cooney
Assistant Manager and Team Coach: Ian Nicholls
Assistant Team Coach: Steve Sargent, Matt Wheeler
Physiotherapist: Kate Moss
Kit manager: Adam Robinson
Disability Team Manager: Ant Bowler
Youth Coordinator & Development: Jay De Vito
Under-18 Managers: Lewis McDonnell & Kevin Wright
Under-16 Amber Manager: Lewis McDonnell
Under-16 Black Manager: Nigel Leach
Under-14 Manager: Sean Clarabut
Under-12 Amber Manager: Ted Symes
Under 12 Black Manager: Tom Butcher
Under 11 Manager: Ben Payne
FROM THE Dugout
GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S GAME AGAINST RAMSGATE.
First of all I must apologise to our supporters for Saturday’s performance. Some of you were critical at the end of the game and rightly so. You pay your money to support the lads and deserve far better.
The first 40 minutes or so were uneventful, a nothing game. We then conceded a poor goal but seem to have got some momentum when we equalised just before half-time. The second half was slightly better in so much that we created a few chances at crucial times which we needed to convert. We didn’t and Lancing ended up with three points.
It was obviously a game we were targeting with two of the top three to come next but it’s gone now. The players know how the management team felt and it’s up to the lads selected tonight to show some pride and professionalism, to bring energy into their performance. That has to be the minimum expected.
I appreciate we face a tough game tonight. Ramsgate should have got promoted last season and I don’t imagine they will make any mistake this season. They have lots of other threats apart from the obvious one up front in Joe Taylor. These are the sort of games any player should relish though. Can I win my individual battle? Can I make the difference with how I perform? The players need to own their own performance tonight and make a difference.
To our supporters, please stick with us. Believe me I share your frustration after Saturday. It ruins my weekend as much as yours when we don’t perform. We can make excuses about injuries but every side suffers from those. I believe there is enough in our squad to be much higher up the league and, regardless of the result, tonight would be a good place to start by playing well individually and collectively and building from there.
Drew
Drew
RAMSGATE TheAwayEnd
Ramsgate squad profiles
Tom Hadler – 28-year-old Canterbury-born shot-stopper who came through the Gillingham Academy and made his Football League debut in April 2018. Tom has kept 24 clean sheets in 65 appearances for the Rams.
Aaron Barnes – 28-year-old powerful full back who signed from Hythe Town in the summer of 2024.
Tom Carlse – 30-year-old left sided full back who rejoined the Rams in the summer of 2024 from Ashford United. He made 21 appearances last season scoring twice. Tom has also had spells with Cray Wanderers, Greenwich, Sittingbourne, East Grinstead Town, Erith Town and Corinthian Casuals.
Joe Ellul – 35-year-old defender. Fan favourite Joe returns for his second spell at Ramsgate as player/coach for the 2024/25 season. Joe has played for Billericay, East Thurrock, Braintree, Tasman United (New Zealand) and Maidenhead.
Jay Leader –. 34-year-old defender. A physical, ball playing centre half that started his career at Southend.
Andrew Tirivanhu - Strong Zimbabwean-born central defender who signed for the Rams in the Summer of 2024. He has previously played for Waltham Forest, Enfield 1893, Ware, Northwood, Witham Town, Aylesbury United and Waltham Abbey.
Archie McGonigle– 18-year-old defender. A ball playing central defender that has spent two years in the Southend academy.
Leo Todd – 18-year-old defender. Was a part on the Ramsgate U23s squad during the 2023/24 season. He made three first team appearances for the first team in cup competitions.
Leo Moore – 17-year-old defender. A member of the Ramsgate U23s squad for the 2023/24 season. Leo had a spell at Woodnesborough last season.
Myles Judd – 25-year-old defender. Myles started his career at Leyton Orient making 73 appearances with his debut coming at the age of 16.
Tom Clifford – 25-year-old midfielder. Combative player who is just as comfortable at left back as he is in midfield, Tom joined the club in the summer of 2024.
Roarie Deacon – 32-year-old midfielder. Roarie counts Crawley Town, Stevenage, Dundee, Sutton United, Havant & Waterlooville and Maidstone among his former clubs. During his career Roarie has made 370 appearances scoring 43 goals.
Lewis Gard – Former Southend United midfielder. Lewis made the switch to the Rams in the summer of 2024 and will be looking to stamp his authority on the engine room in midfield this season.
Tijan Jadama – TJ has appeared for the club on 201 occasions, scoring 43 goals.
Connor Wilkins – 25-year-old midfielder. Connor joined the Rams in the summer from Sheppey United.
Lee Martin – 37-year-old midfielder who came through the youth ranks at Manchester United, and counts Ipswich, Millwall, Gillingham and Exeter among his former sides. Lee moved to Ramsgate in the summer of 2023 and last season made 46 appearances, scoring six goals.
Alfie Paxman – 26-year-old-winger who appeared in Ramsgate’s youth set up and played a starring role when he returned to the club last season. He scored 14 goals and provided countless assists in his 48 appearances.
Joe Taylor – 33-year-old striker who started his senior career at Ramsgate in 2009 and has now scored 137 goals in all competitions for the club.
FIXTURES & RESULTS
AUGUST
Sat 3 AugAGlebeFA Cup EP2-0192Folkes, Tighe
Sat 10 AugAMargateIsthmian South East0-0402
Sat 17 AugHRedhillFA Cup P1-3193Spinks
Fri 23 AugHAFC Croydon AthleticIsthmian South East2-1228Lawson, Weaire
Mon 26 AugASevenoaks TownIsthmian South East2-2107Harris, Daniel
Sat 31 AugHDeal TownIsthmian South East2-3124Daniel, Tighe
SEPTEMBER
Tue 3 SepHMersthamVelocity Cup 20-1115
Sat 7 SepAHartley WintneyFA Trophy 1Q1-2163Harris
Tue 10 SepHBroadbridge HeathIsthmian South East1-293Folkes
Sat 14 SepAPhoenix SportsIsthmian South East2-186Daniel, Weaire
Sat 28 SepABurgess Hill TownIsthmian South East1-2415Humpherston OCTOBER
Tue 8 OctANewhavenSussex Cup 21-1Harris
East Grinstead Town win 7-6 on penalties
Sat 12 OctASteyning Town CommunityIsthmian South East3-2110Andrade Filipe, Tighe, Folkes
Tue 15 OctHAshford UnitedIsthmian South East1-3113Tighe
Sat 26 OctAThree BridgesIsthmian South East1-066Christmas NOVEMBER
Sat 2 NovHErith TownIsthmian South East0-4123
Tue 5 NovABroadbridge HeathIsthmian South East2-4107Daniel, Tighe
Sat 9 NovHPhoenix SportsIsthmian South East4-2101Harris, Humpherston, Christmas, Daniel
Tue 12 NovHLancingSussex Cup 30-277
Sat 16 NovAAshford UnitedIsthmian South East0-3434
Sat 23 NovHBurgess Hill TownIsthmian South EastPostponed
Sat 30 NovHLancingIsthmian South East1-3119Jabbie
DECEMBER
Tue 3 DecHRamsgateIsthmian South East7.30pm
Sat 7 DecABeckenham TownIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 14 DecAHerne BayIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 21 DecHHythe TownIsthmian South East3pm
Thu 26 DecAEastbourne TownIsthmian South East1pm
Sat 28 DecHMargateIsthmian South East3pm JANUARY
Wed 1 JanHSevenoaks TownIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 4 JanASittingbourneIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 11 JanHSheppey UnitedIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 18 JanALittlehampton TownIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 25 JanALancingIsthmian South East3pm
FEBRUARY
Sat 1 FebHBeckenham TownIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 8 FebAMersthamIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 15 FebHSteyning Town CommunityIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 22 FebARamsgateIsthmian South East3pm
MARCH
Sat 1 MarHThree BridgesIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 8 MarAErith TownIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 15 MarHHerne BayIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 22 MarAHythe TownIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 29 MarHLittlehampton TownIsthmian South East3pm
APRIL
Sat 5 AprASheppey UnitedIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 12 AprHSittingbourneIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 19 AprADeal TownIsthmian South East3pm
Mon 21 AprHEastbourne TownIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 26 AprAAFC Croydon AthleticIsthmian South East3pm
TEAM LINE UP
Mattie Pierson
Finlay Westen
Oliver Spinks
Tom Cadman
Michael Wilson
Matthew Weaire
Glenn Wilson (C)
Finlay Lovatt
Charlie Harris
Connor Tighe
Alex Andrade Filipe
Omar Folkes
Matthew Daniel
Kieran Humpherston
Jabari Christmas
Oluremi Onabanjo
Terlochan Singh
Khalifa Jabbie
Luke Harrison
Colours: Amber & Black
Hythe Town
Saturday 21st December 2024
3.00pm
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN HISTORY
Programmes from the Past by Lester Medcalf
I don't have many programmes for games played in the first few days of December and I'm going back nearly 30 years to start with East Grinstead v Newhaven on Saturday 2 December 1995. This was a first-round match in the Sussex County League Division Two Cup.
Our programme editor Bruce Talbot – still doing the job here in 2024 – tells us that we had already played Newhaven twice. Winning 4-2 in our first home match of the season and then losing by the same score in early October in the first round of the Sussex Senior Cup – since when we were unbeaten. Some names from the past saw Phil Richardson, Jim Fenton, Dave Savage and Roger Gualtieri scoring in the win and Phil Richardson scoring both goals when we lost - since when we were unbeaten. And Dave Tidy, who you might see at today's match was in goal.
The club notes also tell us that our chairperson Nada Waugh had recently resigned – the committee hoped to name her successor in the next few days.
And one other item of news was that we were planning to put waste newspaper into a recyling bin here at the ground – for which we would receive £30 a tonne. I know I took the collection very seriously and, once I'd worked out when different roads put out their rubbish, I altered my route to work so that I got the newspaper waste into my car before the bin men had arrived. After a while my car had a funny old smell!
The programme's league table showed us in fourth place in Division Two while Newhaven were just a couple of places beneath us. The game saw an early successful Newhaven penalty which was quickly followed by our Doug Cashman equalising. And shortly before half-time Steve Banks put us in front. But early in the second half we had “a comical defensive mix-up” with one of our defenders heading past our keeper Dave Tidy. This was quickly followed by Dave Tidy fouling one of the Newhaven forwards for their second successful penalty. But we were soon back on level terms as Roger Gualtieri made it 3-3. Extra-time saw no more goals. Two weeks later we went down to Newhaven for the replay – goals from Phil Richardson and Steve Banks were to give us a 2-1 win.
Hythe hit back...
Next up is East Grinstead v Hythe Town on Saturday 3 December 2016 - in the Isthmian League of course.
Manager Matt Longhurst writes briefly about the recent abandoned 0-0 match away to Corinthian Casuals, but at greater length he has a long list of players both leaving us and joining us.
Chairman Richard Tramontin tells us that November has been a disappointing month with defeats in five of our six league games. He also talks about that abandoned Corinthian Casuals game –abandoned because the pitch was frozen (or was it waterlogged?)
A couple of busy match reports on a couple of those recent defeats – a last-minute goal from Sittingbourne had given them a 1-0 win and a last minute first half goal in Guernsey proving to be the winner for the home team in their 2-1 win – Marcus Elliott having brought us level with a goal two minutes before half-time.
The programme's league table shows us in 19th place with five teams below us while Hythe Town have five teams above themselves in sixth place. We had already played the away match at the end of September when Hythe had won 3-1, our goal coming from Marcus Elliott. Now here at East Court we somehow found ourselves 2-0 up at half-time, only for Hythe to return back home with a 3-2 win –inevitably their winning goal came in the last minute. Our first half goals had come from Tashi Kwayie in the first few minutes and a later goal from Jerome Roseje.
If you’ve had your memory jogged by this article, then I’d be happy to hear from you at lestermedcalf@btinternet.com
